WE
Contemporary dance & Live music
Who counts as human? Whose lives count as lives? Let’s face it!
Contemporary dance and live music encounter. “WE” draws inspiration from Anatolian esoterism on one hand, and from contemporary philosophy on the other hand, questioning the concepts of "unity in multitude", "empathy", "universal ethics".
* “WE” was produced for the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet - Modern Dance Ensemble Istanbul (MDTist) and is still in the MDTist repertoire. With our endless thanks to them for their support…
Concept and choreography by dancer-choreographer-director Bedirhan Dehmen, whose works have been staged at Moda Sahnesi, Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Maxim Gorki Theater (Berlin), Suzanne Dellal Center (Tel Aviv), Pavillon Noir (Aix-en-Provence) …
Music and live performance by Cem Yıldız, “Modern Times Ashik” and multi-instrumentalist who merges psychedelic Anatolian music with acid folk. He has performed in many world-famous electronic music festivals, from Montreux Jazz Festival to Sonar Barcelona.
In “we”, three male dancers in the performance space alternately move through series of trio movement forms in close and constant physical contact, dual action dialogues, and moments of individual outbursts of energy. They dig deep into their memories and bodies striving to explore what binds us together. They tirelessly search for unity in multiplicity while re-enacting and re-staging their experiences of communion and conflict, tenderness and violence, strength and vulnerability, and trauma and healing along the way.
Cem Yildiz, the renowned musician who distinctly re-interprets the Anatolian aşık (troubadour) tradition by introducing psychedelic and acid folk elements, joins and guides the djem (alevi-bektashi ritual) with his electro-acoustic musical universe.
Duration: 50 min.
Created with and Performed by Bedirhan Dehmen, Canberk Yıldız, Cem Yıldız, Mihran Tomasyan
Concept and Choreography Bedirhan Dehmen
Music Cem Yıldız
Lighting Design Kerem Çetinel
Costumes Günsu Sarı
Lights Melis Karaman
Social Media Planning Ponte Dijital
Production Biz Platform
Management Caféturc Music & Arts
© Julien Aksoy
© Murat Dürüm
© Murat Dürüm
© Murat Dürüm
"Venues and festivals where “WE” performed"
In Türkiye Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Byzantine Basilica Cistern (Istanbul), Koç University (Istanbul), Saint Bedros Armenian Church (Gaziantep), Archeology Museum (Sanliurfa), Mordem Art Center (Diyarbakir), Karşıyaka Opera and Theatre (Izmir), Bosphorus University (Istanbul), Moda Sahnesi (Istanbul) …
Abroad Maxim Gorki Theater (Berlin. Voicing Resistance Festival), Akropoditi Dance and Performance Festival (Syros Island/Greece), Suzanne Dellal Center (Tel Aviv Summer Dance Festival), Les Halles de Schaerbeek (Brussels. Europalia Arts Festival) …
© Murat Dürüm
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